Pearson, Missouri's Moberly Area Community College Partner to Increase Access to Affordable Course Materials

Moberly, MO and Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 31, 2011

Pearson, the world's leading learning company, today announced a partnership with Moberly Area Community College to increase students' access to affordable course materials through a variety of print and digital package options. The college currently uses the Pearson LearningStudio platform to power its online learning programs.

Under the agreement, Moberly's students will be able to choose from an extensive range of Pearson content, including lower-cost eBooks and a la carte customized print books. Students will have access to Pearson's award-winning MyLabsPlus online homework and tutorial programs, which have proven effective at improving student performance and retention, while helping institutions to control costs.

"Community colleges like Moberly Area are the pillars of local communities across the US, as record numbers of students seek to increase their skill sets in a challenging economy. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Moberly to provide their students with technology and course materials that will support their success in the classroom and beyond," said Don Kilburn, CEO of Pearson Learning Solutions.

"Our partnership with Pearson provides us with a pathway to widespread eBook usage on our campuses while providing our students with a variety of options for how they want to interact with course content," said Michele McCall, Dean of Off-Campus Programs and Instructional Technology at Moberly Area Community College. "This ensures our students will have access to the type of content that best aligns with their unique learning styles now and well into the future."

Moberly Area Community College is a two-year college serving more than 4,000 students at campuses in Moberly, Hannibal, Columbia, Kirksville, Edina, Macon and Mexico, Missouri. The college offers courses in a variety of settings, including day and evening classes, on-campus, off-campus, online and dual credit high school programs.

About Pearson

Pearson has global-reach and market leading businesses in education, business and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO).

Media Contact: Susan Aspey, (800) 745-8489

About Pearson Learning Solutions

Pearson Learning Solutions is a business unit within Pearson, the world's leading learning company. As an education partner and consultant to higher education institutions, Pearson Learning Solutions is committed to designing total, client-driven education solutions. We are a team of world-class education experts, instructional designers, curriculum development experts, education course writers, development editors and experienced textbook publishers. We tailor solutions to each institution's individual needs, including off-the-shelf online, in-classroom or blended courses, or fully customized curriculum development. We also provide a range of technology tools and learning platforms to help students faculty and institutions succeed.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: New Instructional Materials for Texas Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms Premiering at State Capitol Tuesday

Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 31, 2011

Schools across Texas are right now choosing instructional programs for next school year, and the public can get a sneak preview of the new, more rigorous pre-K materials on Tuesday. The state's youngest students will head back to school with brand new materials in the fall, and Pearson's Opening the World of Learning (OWL) program, approved for use across the state, will be on display at the capitol.

The OWL program consists of new, more rigorous digital and print instructional materials, as teachers and school districts across the state recognize that early learning is more important than ever to prepare students for college and the workforce.

Pearson's pre-K program will be available for parents, public officials, educators and media to preview at the state capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Pearson's Pre-K program, heavily integrated with math, was developed by early childhood education experts as compelling new research* shows early exposure to math affects students' chances of going to college.

Texas schools have been using their current Pre-K materials since 2003. OWL, a comprehensive Pre-K curriculum designed for Texas classrooms, will help teachers effectively introduce math concepts and set children on a path to college readiness.

Dr. Juanita Copley is the authority on using math in the classroom to prepare pre-Kindergarten students for success in Kindergarten and beyond. Dr. Copley was instrumental in the development of OWL, which integrates math and science along with language development and other critical skills for students throughout its lessons.

"What children learn in their early years can set them on a path for lifelong success," said Dr. Copley, a veteran teacher of nearly 40 years and professor emeritus of education at the University of Houston. "Children's brains are growing at a rapid rate in the pre-school years, and immersing them in math, science, reading, and more -- inviting them to become explorers of their world -- helps them to not only learn facts and figures, but to recognize their own ability to learn and discover throughout their school years."

Aligned to the state's Pre-K curriculum guidelines, OWL provides an exhaustive list of resources to help children, whether English-speakers or not, develop English vocabulary at an amazing rate of 3,000-4,000 words, which research shows is critical to best prepare children for Kindergarten and long-term school success. Math and science are embedded into OWL's vocabulary, reading and other instruction.